A POACHER who has 33 convictions for stealing fish from rivers has been jailed for five months.

Edward Ingle ­illegally took salmon from the River Tyne in East Lothian in April this year.

And despite being ordered by the courts not to go within 80ft of the river, he was again caught poaching on the river just three weeks later.

Ingle’s lengthy poaching career dates back to 1985.

The former oil worker, from Dunbar, racked up 11 poaching convictions in 2006 alone.

Ingle pleaded guilty at Haddington Sheriff Court on Wednesday to taking fish from the Tyne near Dunbar on April 19 and 20.

The 46-year-old admitted breaching a court order by taking salmon from the same river near East Linton on May 12.

Graham Lowe, defending, said his client “accepted the seriousness of his position” and was trying to turn his life around by re-applying to work in offshore oil.

As well as jailing Ingle, Sheriff Peter Braid fined him £200.

The sheriff said: “Your record shows you’ve been offending since 1985 and by my calculations this is your 33rd conviction for poaching. Given your record, a custodial sentence is ­appropriate.”

Ingle’s conviction has now been welcomed by members of the fishing industry.

Brian Davidson, director of the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, said: “We hope that this sends a clear message that this selfish and environmentally damaging criminal activity will not be tolerated.”

The conviction comes days after water bailiffs and wildlife police discovered a poacher’s net containing 60 large sea trout worth around £1500 in the Tyne. A gang have been blamed.